Larry Merchant on MMA

So, I work at an art gallery on Maui and this old guy walks in. He looks familiar so I ask him if he plays poker in Los Angeles (I used to work at the Hustler Casino and recognize a lot of people). Turns out its Larry Merchant and we start talking about boxing, MMA, etc. He was interested in hearing why I watch MMA, and had is own theory about why the sport is taking over boxing.

Attention span. Growing up with the internet, tv, fast food, all we want is instant gratification: JUST BLEED

Also talked about fans in the US vs Japan , Fight Hype, Paciau, etc etc.

Yes, Im bored

 

so people should instead tune into boxing where most fights end in decision?

 

cool story bro. Now I feel like eating a bullet.

 

and he'll never be convinced otherwise. but out of curiosity, when you told him why you were interested in mma, did he seem interested or curious or did anything you say resonate, or was he just looking for a chance to tell you how wrong you were?

 

Can we get a convo transcript or at least a longer more detailed OP
What the fuck

 

larry merchant is awesome. he is always piss drunk doing the post fight interviews

i loved when he told mayweather he wished he was 50 years younger so he could kick his ass

 

i read the paragraph in the slow, alzheimer's drawl that larry merchant has before i realized this was in your voice. so damn you for that.

moving on, i think he has a fair argument.

 

i knew you had to exist. for the life of me i could never figure out why he announces. there must be more than one of you, but i sure as hell never met anyone who liked listening to him. he makes fucking Bill Walton seem like a good announcer, IMHO. and that's difficult.

 

I don't think the MMA and boxing fanbases overlap as much as others assume. It's an altogether different product. I would theorize that more MMA fans are grown-up pro wrestling fans.

The diversity in movesets, the cohesive marketing, the monthly PPV's, the merchandising, and the favorite-fighter mentality are all very similar between MMA and pro wrestling.

 

He also said people get title shot to soon

 

lmao!

An old guy complaining about virtues of a much younger generation. That's only been happening, oh, for the entirety of human history.

By his logic GSP would be the least popular champion of all time, instead of the most.

 

Looks like you like to start stuff.

 

No, he was genuinlley curious and took everything I said into consideration. Didn't disagree. He instigated the conversation as to why I preffered MMA

 

Agreed. I stopped watching pro wrestling after discovering MMA in the 90's. Most of my friends that are MMA fans were also pro wrestling fans. In fact, I can only think of two that actually enjoy boxing.

 

right on.

in real life did he talk as slow and methodical as he does when announcing?

 

As someone that grew up watching boxing, it makes me mad when a boxing announcer speaks uninformed about mma.

MMA has brought more attention to jj and kickboxing, boxing could have got more from emphasizing they are both fighting sports, rather than the insecure bashing of mma.

Proud to say I was never a wrestling fan.

 

eh, i see him arguing for interest in mma not interest in gsp. his argument isn't out there.

 

One of the most arrogant People in the world IMO

 

Ill try:

Me: Hey, you look familiar. Do you play poker in los angeles?

Larry: Takes off sunglasses* Im Larry Merchant from boxing

Me: Ohhhhhh, ok. I recognize a lot of people from when I used to work at Larry Flynts Casino.

Larry: Always looking for a mark right *laughs

Me: No no, I just remember faces

Me: I watch a lot of boxing, MMA, kickboxing. So, what do you think of MMA, it seems to be picking up steam as the leading combat sport

Larry: What is it about MMA that makes it more appealing that boxing

Me: I like the idea of a more well rounded approach to anything in life.

Ugh...I cant do the whole convo...People are starting to come into the gallery

 

Totally. It seems like he thinks about what he is about to say in a thoughtfull manner...as opposed to being old and having to search for thoughts